Many opportunities exist for youth in Australia to become actively involved in environmental activities, however the avenues for young or early career professionals, typically 25 to 35, are somewhat limited.

Early career active professionals involved in youth activities within the professions and NGOs experience a great deal of development.  The national peak body of the Professional Associations in Australia, Professions Australia acts as a champion for the professions in the service of the community and is committed to the development of its younger members.  It is focused on further developing this resource to form a think-tank of young leaders regarding various issues related to the professions.

YPAR2003 Delegates at the Roundtable

The ‘Young Professions Australia Roundtable 2003’ was founded by Professions Australia and The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) in May 2003 to help young professionals see how their profession could contribute towards Sustainable Development.

Professions Australia sought to engage the younger generation of members through the ‘Young Professions Australia Roundtable 2003’ to:

- encourage and facilitate communication, debate and action by the younger generation of professionals on issues related to both their personal development and that of the professions; and

- provide the means for sharing information, ideas and expertise among young professionals through networks for cooperation with other young professionals groups.

YPAR2003 and the Executive of Professions Australia

(Charlie Hargroves, TNEP Director, and Barry Grear AO, the then President of Professions Australia and 2007 President of The World Federation of Engineering Organisations, pictured central.)

Delegate Papers

Resulting from the roundtable was a series of papers on perspectives from young professionals.  These are provided below:

-  An Information Technology Perspective (Ana Goven) In 2007 Ana was awarded the Professions Australia 'Young Professional of the Year' award.

-  An Australian Minerals Industry Perspective (Brigette Hall)

-  An Engineer's Perspective (Kate West)

-  An Architectural Perspective (Nikki Brennan)

-  An Audiological Perspective (Nina Quinn)

-  A Dental Perspective (Philippa Thomson)

-  A Construction Industry Perspective (Luke Fraser)

YPAR2003 and the full Board of Professions Australia